McAllen and Brownsville ranked ‘safest border cities’ according to research (2023)

FAQs

Where does McAllen rank in safety? ›

McAllen is the third ranking safest city in the country for 2023 according to SmartAsset.com's Top 10 Safest Cities list. The financial website analyzed a core set of common safety factors to identify and rank the safest cities in America, looking at data from 200 of the largest cities.

McAllen fared only slightly better, sitting at 157 out of the 200 most glamorous cities on the list. In what might not surprise anyone familiar with the two communities, McAllen scored higher than Brownsville for both clubs and entertainment.

Laredo ranked among the best in the nation for home and community safety, according to the survey.

McAllen was recognized as the third safest city by SmartAssest.com, which analyzed a core set of common safety factors, including the following five metrics: violent crime, property crime, vehicular mortality rate, drug poisoning mortality rate and the percentage of the population engaging in excessive drinking.

The Gulf Cartel (Spanish: Cártel del Golfo, Golfos, or CDG) is a criminal syndicate and drug trafficking organization in Mexico, and perhaps one of the oldest organized crime groups in the country. It is currently based in Matamoros, Tamaulipas, directly across the U.S. border from Brownsville, Texas.

The crime rate in McAllen is considerably higher than the national average across all communities in America from the largest to the smallest, although at 20 crimes per one thousand residents, it is not among the communities with the very highest crime rate.

The chance that a person will become a victim of a violent crime in Brownsville; such as armed robbery, aggravated assault, rape or murder; is 1 in 252. This equates to a rate of 4 per one thousand inhabitants.

Violent crimes are defined in the UCR Program as those offenses which involve force or threat of force. The Brownsville TX crime rate for 2018 was 376.23 per 100,000 population, a 46.39% increase from 2017. The Brownsville TX crime rate for 2017 was 257 per 100,000 population, a 6.46% increase from 2016.

Of particular local interest is the fact that the last battle of the Civil War took place just east of Brownsville on May 13, 1865, with rebel Col. Rip Ford besting the union forces in that last fight. Brownsville thus claims the first battle of the War with Mexico and the last battle of the Civil War.

1. Merida — Safest City in Mexico & Latin America. Merida is a popular tourist destination and expat city, famed for colorful streets and rich Mayan history. Located in the Yucatan Peninsula, one of the safest parts of Mexico, Merida consistently ranks as the safest place to travel in Mexico.

What city in Texas has the lowest crime rate? ›

In fact, four out of the top five safest cities in the U.S. are in Texas. According to SmartAsset, “All four have violent crime rates lower than 90% of the cities across the study.” Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Frisco has placed at the top for safety its second consecutive year.

Frisco, Texas, was ranked as the safest city in the nation for a second year in a row, according to a new report from SmartAsset. The city, located north of Dallas, was joined by McKinney and McAllen, Texas, which ranked second and third overall, respectively.

MCALLEN, Texas – Communities along the U.S.-Mexico border are among the safest in the country, according to the latest crime reports published by the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

The largest McAllen racial/ethnic groups are Hispanic (86.2%) followed by White (8.9%) and Asian (2.7%).

Violent Spiral of the Gulf Cartel

The CDG's control of the Brownsville-Matamoros crossing to the key criminal economies outlined above stretches back to the 1930s and a whisky runner named Juan Nepomuceno Guerra.

McAllen is a safe place to live

Compared to the rest of the country, the crime rate in this city is 14% lower, making it a very secure place to live. Aside from that, the violent crime rate in this mid-sized city is around 78% lower than the national average, with a violent crime rate of 0.98 per 1000 residents.

But the area's criminal activity has long been dominated by the Gulf Cartel and there have been fractures within that group. Experts say there has been an internal struggle within the group since 2017 to control key territories for drug and human trafficking.

In 2020 there were 617 incidents of violent crime, including 11 murders, 149 robberies, and 390 assaults. Property crime in 2020 was 5,000 incidents, with 735 cases of burglary and 854 cases of vehicle theft. There were also 5,000 incidents of property crime, with theft and burglary being the most common.

The City of Brownsville was ranked the 16th safest city in the United States, according to a ranking by SmartAsset.

Is it safe to travel to Brownsville TX? ›

Border cities get a bad rap as violent, but the Rio Grande Valley is extremely safe. Of the 24 Texas metro areas ranked by the FBI, Brownsville comes in dead last, with 240 incidents of violent crime per 100,000 people.

Brownsville is safe, but there is a lot of property crime in the areas known as Southmost, Cameron Park, and the West side. The actual dangerous areas are the bars and night clubs or the taqueria known as El Último Taco where fights and shootings are commonplace.

The Lone Star State ranked 11^th on the list of most dangerous states, with 391.1 crimes per 100,000 people. Texas also had the ninth highest poverty rate in the nation in 2021 at 14.2%.

Brownsville, Texas's cost of living is 15% lower than the national average. The cost of living in any area can vary based on factors such as your career, its average salary and the real estate market of that area.

We Cost Less

While it's a hot, dry city with a lower income level than most of Texas, you'll save big on your cost of living. According to the Brownsville Economic Development Council, it costs 10 percent less to live here than the U.S. average.

Living in Brownsville offers residents a sparse suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Brownsville there are a lot of parks. Many families live in Brownsville and residents tend to be liberal. The public schools in Brownsville are above average.

Race and Ethnicity

94.1% of the people in Brownsville, TX are hispanic (171k people).

Cancun has really managed to keep the crime rate down. This is due to the local government's tough stance against crime and quick response to crises. Los Cabos has also been named the safest place to visit in Mexico for 2023. This shows that a city with Level 2 status is no less safe than a Level 1 city.

With the lowest crime rate, the Mexican state of Yucatan is considered the safest area in Mexico to visit (including Merida and Valladolid).

What is the safest place in Mexico to go? Merida is widely regarded as the safest city to visit in Mexico. However, there are lots of safe areas in Mexico with little to no violent crime. Mexico City, San Miguel de Allende, and Queretaro are also generally safe destinations.

What is the most unhealthy city in Texas? ›

McAllen was ranked as the fattest city in the US in the study. Researchers looked at 19 key metrics in 100 of the nation's most populous metro areas, from physical activity to obesity to healthy eating.

WalletHub ranked California last year the nation's 27th safest state. Texas is 47th.

Four out of the top five safest cities in America are in Texas, according to a new report from SmartAsset. Frisco, McKinney and McAllen are the top three safest cities in the country, while Plano ranks at No. 5, according to the finance site's “Safest Cities in America – 2023 Edition” report.

What makes San Antonio a good city to live in for black individuals? Well, for starters the black employment rate is pretty high, and also the black median income. San Antonio also has the highest rate of black graduates.

Brownsville West Rail Bridge

There are four border crossings in the Brownsville region that allow the cross- border movement of privately operated vehicles, pedestrians, buses, commercial trucks, or rail cars. Each of these bridges connect Brownsville to its sister city, Matamoros, in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.

McAllen is a gateway to Mexico with two international crossings, the McAllen-Hidalgo International Bridge and the Anzalduas International Bridge. The McAllen-Hidalgo bridge connects McAllen and Hidalgo to downtown Reynosa, Mexico, and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Tamaulipas, the state where Matamoros is located, is considered one of the most violent places in Mexico. The State Department's most recent travel advisory, from October 2022, lists Tamaulipas as one of six Mexican states under a "Level 4: Do Not Travel" advisory for crime and kidnapping.

The largest city on the American side of the region is Brownsville (Cameron County), followed by McAllen (Hidalgo County).

Known for its mild winter weather, tropical breezes, brightly colored birds, and low cost of living, it's also a shopping mecca drawing millions of visitors annually to its many shopping districts. Today, McAllen is one of the fastest growing cities in America.

What is the most Mexican city in Texas? ›

DPS collected data on violent crime for 41 cities with population sizes over 100,000, and McAllen's rate for violent crimes was about 85 for every 100,000 people, putting them second after San Antonio.

In 2021, 40.2% of the population was Hispanic and Latino American of any race, 39.3% non-Hispanic white, 11.6% Black or African American, 1.5% American Indian or Alaska Native, 5.1% Asian, 0.2% Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, 0.4% some other race, and 3.1% two or more races.

McAllen High School 2022 Rankings

McAllen High School is ranked #4,258 in the National Rankings.

Frisco, Texas

Frisco, Texas, part of the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex has been ranked the number 1 safest city to live in the U.S. It boasts the fourth-lowest violent crime rate and the sixth-lowest property crime rate.

McAllen is a safe place to live

Compared to the rest of the country, the crime rate in this city is 14% lower, making it a very secure place to live. Aside from that, the violent crime rate in this mid-sized city is around 78% lower than the national average, with a violent crime rate of 0.98 per 1000 residents.

McAllen has developed from a farming community to a visitor's delight. Known for its mild winter weather, tropical breezes, brightly colored birds, and low cost of living, it's also a shopping mecca drawing millions of visitors annually to its many shopping districts.

The McAllen city limits extend to the southwest as far as the Rio Grande, directly north of Reynosa, Tamaulipas, in Mexico. The Anzalduas International Bridge crosses the Rio Grande at this point, 11 mi (18 km) southwest of downtown McAllen.

Where does Texas A&M ranked? ›

Texas A&M University's ranking in the 2022-2023 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #67. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,178; out-of-state tuition and fees are $40,087. Ready to be an Aggie? All students assume the nickname at Texas A&M, an academic and athletic powerhouse in central Texas.

Memphis, Tennessee

The most dangerous city in the USA is Memphis, Tennessee. With a population of 628,127, Memphis has a crime rate that is 237% higher than the national average. Memphis has 7,913 crimes per 100,000 people, with an exceptionally high violent crime rate.

Overall, McAllen has a minor risk of flooding over the next 30 years, which means flooding is likely to impact day-to-day life within the community.

McAllen is in Hidalgo County and is one of the best places to live in Texas. Living in McAllen offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In McAllen there are a lot of parks. Many families and young professionals live in McAllen and residents tend to be liberal.

The states with the highest murder rates in the United States are Louisiana, Missouri, South Carolina, Arkansas, Tennessee, Alaska, Maryland, Oklahoma, Mississippi and North Carolina, but it is the District of Columbia that has the highest murder rate in the US, with a rate of 49.2 murder per 100,000 people.

According to the GPI 2021 report, Iceland was ranked the safest country in the world for the 13th consecutive year, followed by New Zealand, Ireland, Austria, and Denmark. The GPI takes into account 23 indicators that are grouped under three domains: ongoing conflict, safety and security, and militarization.

What is the number 1 safest city in the world? Copenhagen is considered to be the safest place according to the index.